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Sub-Inhibitory Concentration of Piperacillin–Tazobactam May be Related to Virulence Properties of Filamentous Escherichia coli

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Abstract

Sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics are always generated as a consequence of antimicrobial therapy and the effects of such residual products in bacterial morphology are well documented, especially the filamentation generated by beta-lactams. The aim of this study was to investigate some morphological and pathological aspects (virulence factors) of Escherichia coli cultivated under half-minimum inhibitory concentration (1.0 µg/mL) of piperacillin–tazobactam (PTZ sub-MIC). PTZ sub-MIC promoted noticeable changes in the bacterial cells which reach the peak of morphological alterations (filamentation) and complexity at 16 h of antimicrobial exposure. Thereafter the filamentous cells and a control one, not treated with PTZ, were comparatively tested for growth curve; biochemical profile; oxidative stress tolerance; biofilm production and cell hydrophobicity; motility and pathogenicity in vivo. PTZ sub-MIC attenuated the E. coli growth rate, but without changes in carbohydrate fermentation or in traditional biochemical tests. Overall, the treatment of E. coli with sub-MIC of PTZ generated filamentous forms which were accompanied by the inhibition of virulence factors such as the oxidative stress response, biofilm formation, cell surface hydrophobicity, and motility. These results are consistent with the reduced pathogenicity observed for the filamentous E. coli in the murine model of intra-abdominal infection. In other words, the treatment of E. coli with sub-MIC of PTZ suggests a decrease in their virulence.

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Acknowledgments

Sérgio, Luiza, Vivian, MOA, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Pró-Reitorias de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação (PRPPG) da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) e da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES).

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Author notes

  1. Oscar Bruna-Romero

    Present address: Centro de Ciências Biológicas/MIP, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário do Córrego Grande, sn, sala05, Bl. A, MIP, C.P. 476, Florianópolis, SC, CEP: 88040-970, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 – Pampulha, C.P. 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil

    João Paulo Lopes de Andrade, Luiz de Macêdo Farias, João Fernando Gonçalves Ferreira, Oscar Bruna-Romero, Daniele da Glória de Souza & Maria Auxiliadora Roque de Carvalho

  2. Departamento de Patologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Marechal Campos 1468, Bairro Maruípe, Vitória, ES, CEP: 29043-900, Brazil

    Kênia Valéria dos Santos

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  1. João Paulo Lopes de Andrade
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de Andrade, J.P.L., de Macêdo Farias, L., Ferreira, J.F.G. et al. Sub-Inhibitory Concentration of Piperacillin–Tazobactam May be Related to Virulence Properties of Filamentous Escherichia coli . Curr Microbiol 72, 19–28 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-015-0912-9

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